Fishing rod handle



WW E. MEaEmQHAN EAQSfiW FISHING ROD HANDLE Filed om. 7, 1946 4 4 [1,BNVENTOR ERNEST MEIERJOHAN Patented Jan. 31, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to fishing rods, and more particularly to animproved fishing rod handle.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fishing rod handlehaving associated therewith a simple, quick acting thumb actuated reelattaching means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fishing rod handlehaving a thumb actuated reel locking lever which is adapted to bepositioned in one or the other of two normal positions, that is fullylocked, or entirely released.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fishing rod handlehaving a spring loaded reel looking lever which will automaticallyaccommodate various sizes, shapes and thicknesses of reel base plates.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fishing rod handlehaving reel locking means which serve a dual purpose of holding a reelin place and of providing a convenient thumb rest for the user of thedevice.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fishing rod handlehaving simple, rugged, yet highly efficient reel locking meansassociated therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fishing rod handlehaving reel locking means associated therewith which can be actuated byone hand.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a fishing rodhandle having reel locking means associated therewith which cannot beaccidentally or unintentionally released from a reel engaging position,but which requires a positive and deliberate act on the part of the userof the device before a reel can be disengaged from the handle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fishing rod handlehaving the hereinabove described characteristics and which is adapted tobe produced using modern mass production methods.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein andas disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side view of a fishing rod handle embodying the teachings ofthe present invention, wherein parts have been broken away to revealcertain structural details.

Fig. 2 is a side view of a fishing rod handle, similar to that of Fig.l, but with a reel locked in place in such a manner as to preclude itsaccidental or unintentional release from the handle.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of a reel locking lever, which comprisesa detail of the present invention, partly in section for clarity ofdetail and understanding.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the reel locking lever of Fig. 3, but on areduced scale, and showing the various elements which comprises thecompleted lever in extending relationship.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be observed that a fishing rodhandle denoted generally by the numeral i0 comprises, broadly speaking,a forward rod receptive portion H, a rearward handle grip portion 12 anda reel seat portion l3 disposed. intermediate the forward and rearportions.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the reel seat portion I3is defined by a pair of laterally spaced walls 15 and I1, an upstandingrear wall it, an undercut front wall 2| and a bottom wall 213. Theoverall length of the elongated reel seat is of a dimension somewhatgreater than the overall length of the base plate '25 of a fishing reel,denoted generally by the numeral 21.

It should be understood that the present invention is not concernedwith, nor directed to, the structural details of reel 21, except insofaras its base plate 25 shall be of a dimension to be receivable withinseat l3. It may be noted that the base plates of reels are almostuniversally concave in transverse section, as illustrated in Fig. 2 ofthe drawings.

A substantially L shaped reel locking member 39 comprising a dependingportion 32 and a rearwardly extending or actuating portion 34 ispivotally mounted to the handle on pin 36 which spans side walls 15 andI1, and which is spaced forwardly of rear wall IQ for disposing thelooking member in overhanging relationship with the rear end of seat 13.

With particular reference now to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be observed thatan elongated pin receptive slot 38 is provided thru the upper end ofdepending portion 32, said depending portion being likewise providedwith an axial bore 40 extending from the lower end thereof up to and incommunication with slot 38. A spherical bearing member 42 and a spring44 are adapted to be received within bore 46, being held in place by acap member 46 which may be secured to the lower end 52 of dependingportion 32 by means of a force fit, or the like.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the lower end 52 ofdepending portion 32 is provided with a raised central portion, as isbottom 54 of cap 45. Said raised central portion is adapted to engageand center the hereinabove referred to concave reel base plate relativeto seat i3;

With reference now to Fig. 3, it will be observed that pin 35 willnormally be yieldably urged upwardly to engage the upper end of slot 38,likewise end 52 of depending portion 32 will be continuously urgeddownwardly away from said pm.

The lower end 52 of locking member is adapted to be moved arcuatelyabout pin 36 between contacting and non-contacting positions relative tothe rear end of a reel base plate. Said locking member is likewiseadapted for endwise movement relative to pin 36 by reason of thestructiu'e disclosed in Fig. 3, wherefore it will be observed that therear end of a reel base plate will be positively, though yieldingly,forced forwardly and downwardly relative to seat 53 when the lookingmember is moved to the position disclosed in Fig. 2.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the rearwardly extendingportion 35' of locking member 36 is arcuate in form to overlappinglyengage the upper forward end of handle l2, and in addition" thereto itis provided with an overhanging thumb portion '59 for enabling the useof such a handle to quickly and easily manipulate the locking memberfrom a locked to an unlocked position using but one hand.

It will be observed that the lower end 52 of the locking member will: bemoved pastcenter incident to being moved to the contacting or.

locked position illustrated in Fig. 2,v wherefore the reelvvill besecurely held in place against accidental or unintentional displacement.In order to release the reel it will require a positive and deliberateact on the part of the user of the device to lift upwardly on actuatorportion 34'.

From the foregoing it will be observed that I have provided a fishingrod handle having a reel locking member which though simple will enablea fisherman to quickly and positively look a reel to the handle bymerely depressing actuator per-- ion 34 of the locking member. I haveobtained excellent results using handle members and looking membersfabricated from cast aluminum and wherein cap member E6 isfabricatedfrom a hard, wear resisting material, such as stainless steelor the like.

It should be understood that various modifications may be made in thestructural details of the invention, within the scope of the appendedclaims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A fishing rod handle. member having. a reel seat disposedintermediate its length to receive the base plate of a line reel, saidseat terminating at its forward end in an undercut portion into whichthe forward end of a reel base plate is receivable, a locking memberpivotally connected to the handle member above and overhanging the rearportion of said seat, said locking member movable arcuately about saidpivotal connection from a contacting to a noncontacting relationshipwith the rear portion of a reel base plate mounted in said seat, andmeans housed within said locking member for providing endwise movementthereof about said pivotal connection, said locking member when in acon-- tacting relationship forcing said base plate for wardly anddownwardly relative to said seat for precluding accidental orunintentional displacement therefrom.

2. Afishing rod handle member having a reel seat disposed intermediateits length to receive the base plate of a line reel, said seatterminating at its forward end in an undercut portion into which theforward end of a reel base plate is receivable, a locking memberpivotally connected to the handle member and overhanging the rearportion of said seat, said locking member movable arcuately about saidpivotal connection from a contacting to a non-contacting relationshipwith the rear portion of a reel base plate mounted in said seat, andspring means secured to and carried by said locking member for providinglimited, yieldable, endwise movement thereof about said pivotalconnection, said locking member when in a contacting relationshipyieldingly forcing said base plate forwardly and downwardly relative tosaid seat.

3. A fishing rod handle member having a reel seat disposed intermediateits length to receive the base plate of a reel, said seat defined by apair of laterally spaced side walls, an upstanding rear wall and anundercut front wall, a pin spanning said side walls and spaced forwardlyof said rear wall, a locking member pivotally mounted on said pin, saidmember including a depending portion for movement from a contact ing toa non-contacting relationship with the rear end of the base plate of areel mounted in said seat, said member having an elongated pin receptiveslot for providing arcuate as Well as endwise movement of said memberrelative to said pin, and means housed within said member for normallyand yieldingly urging said depending portion downwardly away from saidpin for locating said pin at the upper end of said slot.

a; A fishing rod handle member having a reel seat disposed intermediateits length to receive the base plate of a reel, said seat defined by apair of laterally spaced side walls, an upstanding rear wall and anundercut front wall, a pin spanning said side Walls and spaced forwardlyof said rear wall, a locking member pivotally mounted on said pin, saidmember including a depending portion for movement from a contact 1 ingto a non-contacting relationship with the rear end of the base plate ofa reel mounted in said seat, said member having an elongated pinreceptive slot for providing arcuate as well as endwise movement of saidmember relative to said pin, and means housed within said member fornormally and yieldingly urging said depending portion downwardly awayfrom said pin for locating said pin at the upper end of said slot, saidmeans comprising a spring biased bearing element located under said pin.

5. A fishing rod handle member having a reel seat disposed intermediateits length to receive the base plate of a reel, said seat defined by apair of laterally spaced side walls, an upstanding rear wall and anundercut front wall, a pin spanning said side walls and spaced forwardlyof said rear wall, a locking member mounted on said pin, said memberincluding a depending portion for movement from a contacting to anon-contacting relationship with the rear end of the base plate of areel mounted in said seat, said member having an elongated pin receptiveslot for providing arcuate as well as endwise movement of said memberrelative to saidpin, said depending portion having a bore pivotally' 5posed between said bearing element and cap for yieldingly urging saidbearing element in contact with said pin and for normally urging the endof said depending portion downwardly away from said pin.

6. A fishing rod handle member having a reel seat disposed intermediateits length to receive the base plate of a line reel, said seat definedby a pair of laterally spaced side walls, a reel plate locking memberdisposed between and pivotally connected to said side walls, and meanshoused within said member for providing limited, yieldable, endwisemovement of said member relative to said pivotal connection.

7. A fishing rod handle member having a reel seat disposed intermediateits length to receive the base plate of a reel, said seat being definedby a pair of upstanding laterally spaced side walls which terminate attheir rear ends in a portion of said handle member and at their frontends in a transversely extending pocket into which the forward end ofthe base plate of a reel is receivable, and means between the side wallsadjacent their rear ends and pivotally mounted above and in overhangingrelationship with the rearward portion of said seat, said meansincluding a depending portion the free end of which forms a clampinmember constructed to progressively engage the rear end of a base platelocated in the seat incident to movement of said means about its pivotalconnection and for simultaneously shifting said base plate forwardly fordisposing its forward end within said pocket for precluding accidentalor unintentional displacement therefrom.

8. A fishing rod handle comprising a forwardly extending rod receptiveportion, a rearwardly extending hand grip portion, a reel seat definedby a pair of laterally spaced upstanding side walls disposedintermediate said portions, and a reel latchin member pivotally mountedbetween said side walls and in overhanging relationship with thatportion of the reel seat adjacent said hand grip portion for movementfrom a contacting to a non-contacting relationship with the rear portionof a reel base plate disposed within said seat, said latching memberincluding a rearwardly extending portion projecting from between saidside Walls and including a thumb portion dimensioned to follow the topcontour of said hand grip portion and snugly overlie the seat adjacentend of said hand grip portion when said latching member is in a baseplate contacting position.

ERNEST MEIERJOHAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNI ED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 553,725 Roll Jan. 28, 18961,464,154 Hooper -1 Aug. 7, 1923 1,591,122 Gephart July 6, 19261,663,853 Newville Mar. 27, 1928 2,111,080 Stromgren Mar. 15, 19382,289,216 Seidel July 7, 1942 2,422,084 Dorner June 10, 1947 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 84,608 Sweden Aug. 15, 1935

